Hack taxi driver sentenced for rape

Tricia Bishop

Samuel Renard Queen, of the 3500 block of Elmley Ave. in Baltimore, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for rape, kidnapping and related offenses this week for assaulting a woman at knifepoint in his unlicensed taxicab, the Baltimore state's attorney's office announced.

The victim hailed the “hack” taxi after work on Dec. 6, 2010, prosecutors said. Queen picked her up on Belair Road and agreed to take her downtown, but instead took her to Clifton Park, where he forced her to engage in sexual acts and raped her. A jury convicted Queen in the attack on April 12, and he was sentenced Wednesday.

The 28-year-old had also been facing trial next month in a separate case charging him with kidnapping a minor, sexual offenses, assault, robbery, use of a deadly weapon and false imprisonment. But prosecutors on Thursday said they will place that case on an inactive docket, in light of the life sentences.